MCS Board Approves 2017-18, 2018-19 school calendars

The Mason City School Board of Education approved the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school calendars during the June 8 meeting.

The calendars include personal learning days - a new district-wide feature for 2016-2017 that developed as a collaborative idea among teachers, administrators and other district leaders.

Personal Learning Days are a recognition that learning happens outside the school day. On personal learning days, students will experience integration of learning and their life by embarking on projects outside of school that may include service learning, global learning and online learning. The District will provide a framework and a variety of learning opportunities, and families and students will have a choice in how they accomplish those learning objectives. This is a student/family/community learning opportunity, and there will be time to collect and celebrate the learning.

A committee of parents, teachers and administrators recommended the calendars to the school board.

"We appreciate the diligence of the calendar committee members who worked hard to design school calendars that support student learning, and our staff and families' needs," said Dr. Gail Kist-Kline, Superintendent.